AAP takes MCD broom for capital flight -

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By Our Special Correspondent

New Delhi, December 7: The Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) ended 15-year rule of the Bharatiya Janata Party in the Municipal Corporation of Delhi on Wednesday, winning a clear majority in a bipolar contest. The AAP with 134 wards will now take control of the MCD, establishing on party rule in both the city government and the local bodies. The MCD verdict has proved all exit polls wrong.

The BJP won 104 municipal wards, but the party’s vote share marginally improved, suggesting that the saffron outfit continues to make a strong mobilization of the party cadres and the workers. Congress could bag a mere nine wards, and the party has now ceded its space to the AAP.

There could still be some surprise elements left as it is to be seen how many members are nominated by the lieutenant governor in Delhi Vinai Kumar Saxena. The BJP is counting on the gains such as marginal improvement in the vote share, win in key wards in key Assembly constituencies such as that of deputy Chief Minister Manish Sisodia and the jailed minister Satyander Jain. The BJP is also exuding consolation that the party is not routed in the MCD. The Exit Polls shown on television channels have again been proved wrong by the actual verdict of the people.

Yet, the AAP victory is a morale booster for the Arvind Kejriwal-led party. The AAP has also been in power in Delhi for about nine years, and it too was up against the anti-incumbency factor. The MCD polls test the cadre strength of a party, as the difference between a winner and a loser is of just about a few thousand votes. Also, the voters’ turnout is generally less in the MCD polls, which again make the cadre strength of a party crucial.

Additionally, the AAP will be pleased with the number of wards won by Congress. The MCD verdict shows that Congress has almost completely ceded its base to the AAP. That also means that the Purvanchali vote base, which after the significant demographic change, is fully with the AAP. This sets up a bipolar politics in Delhi, which will suit AAP more and the BJP will struggle to beat Kejriwal in the absence of Congress. Now, the AAP can also count on the MCD to rehabilitate its cadre to further strengthen the rank and file of the party.